Pd-based metallic membranes for hydrogen separation and production

Low cost composite metallic membranes for the hydrogen separation and production have been prepared by using thin Pd-Ag foils reinforced by metallic (stainless steel and nickel) structures. Especially, “supported membranes” have been obtained by a diffusion welding procedure in which Pd-Ag thin foils have been joined with perforated metals (nickel) and expanded metals (stainless steel): in these membranes the thin palladium foil assures both the high hydrogen permeability and the perm-selectivity while the metallic support provides the mechanical strength. A second studied method of producing "laminated membranes" consists of coating non-noble metal sheets with very thin palladium layers by diffusion welding and cold-rolling. Palladium thin coatings over these metals reduce the activation energy of the hydrogen adsorption process and make them permeable to the hydrogen. In this case, the dense non-noble metal has been used as a support structure of the thin Pd-Ag layers coated over its surfaces: a proper thickness of the metal assures the mechanical strength, the absence of defects (cracks, micro-holes) and the complete hydrogen selectivity of the membrane. membrane.